15. William Savino

Is William Savino the most powerful attorney on Long Island? He’d probably smile and deny it. But no one could deny that Rivkin Radler tops the list of the Island’s prestigious law firms. (Its alumni include Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano.) This year Savino was the lead counsel on behalf of Nassau County in its short-lived legal battle with the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority. On the national stage he’s been involved in many high-profile cases in commercial and insurance coverage litigation, such as the Sept. 11 World Trade Center liability case and the BPA-Plastic Products (baby bottles) lawsuit. Last fall, the Nassau County Republican Committee gave him a lifetime achievement award. As further proof of his prowess, Savino has been appointed by the governor to sit on the Nassau County Judicial Panel as a member of the New York State Judicial Screening Committee. Would Savino ever trade his legal briefs for judicial robes? Maybe that’s one case he won’t make for himself, but it’s evident that he’d be treated with all due respect, given a jury of his peers.